Fit for the future of public transport: Graz is expanding
The public transport network in Graz will be further expanded in 2025. At the same time, the infrastructure in the areas of water, energy and district heating will also be improved. You can find all information on the construction projects here.
As part of the inner city relief and completion of the Neutor line, extensive work will be carried out on the routes to the west of Graz this year, which will also lead to improvements in the future.
The focus is on the further development of public transport. In order to increase frequency and relieve the streetcar network in Graz, construction work on the new Neutor Line has been underway since March 2023. The new streetcar line through Neutorgasse, which continues via Andreas-Hofer-Platz and Tegetthoffbrücke past Bad zur Sonne to Vorbeckstraße and ends in Annenstraße, is intended to relieve the burden on Herrengasse. The route will be completed by fall 2025, and the tracks from Vorbeckgasse will be connected to those of Annenstraße from May to September.
This period will be used to carry out further important infrastructure and maintenance work. These infrastructure measures will require large-scale rail replacement services for lines 1, 4, 6 and 7 from May to September 2025. Several rail construction projects will be combined as a focal point on the west-east public transport axis between depot 2 and depot 3 in order to avoid multiple closures of streetcar services on this busy connection. Tracks are being replaced, stops extended, work carried out on depot 3 and renovations in the underpass area of the local transport hub at the main station (see below for details).
Inner city relief: setting the course for our (inner) city
Every day, Graz Linien brings more than 300,000 passengers safely to their destination. The number of public transport users has been rising for years – apart from the Corona stopovers – and will continue to do so in the coming years due to population growth and infrastructure projects in the Mur metropolis. The consequence of this development: public transport and with it modern mobility services in Graz will be further expanded! This course is currently being set.
At present, all streetcar lines run via Hauptplatz, through Herrengasse to Jakominiplatz and vice versa. It is hardly possible to run additional streetcars through the bottleneck at the Iron Gate. Interval densification is therefore impossible. In addition, events, demonstrations and the like cause disruptions and even temporary suspension of streetcar services on all six lines in Herrengasse.
More streetcars, more frequent service
After the expansion, more streetcars than before will run through the city center – Graz Linien will thus ensure shorter intervals and faster transfer options as well as a better connection to the main station. In future, in the event of demonstrations or other operational incidents that lead to closures in the city center, streetcar operations can be routed via the Neutorgasse relief route. The connection to the Andreas-Hofer-Platz regional bus station will also be improved, thus ensuring an improved inner-city distribution of commuters. In this respect, the importance of relieving congestion in the city center extends well beyond the city limits.
The new double-track section of the Neutor Line branches off from the existing streetcar line west of Jakominiplatz at Schmiedgasse. The line runs on flush track over Radetzkystraße, Neutorgasse, Andreas-Hofer-Platz, Belgiergasse and Vorbeckgasse. The line joins the existing route of streetcar lines 1, 4, 6 and 7 at the Annenstraße/Vorbeckgasse junction. The Tegetthoff Bridge was structurally upgraded and widened by 1.50 meters as part of the expansion. The footpaths and cycle paths on this route were improved and areas for resting and interacting were created. Cyclists can look forward to new cycle paths with a length of 575 meters.
A large part of the construction work has already been completed (Neutorgasse and Tegetthoffbrücke), but work is still ongoing in Belgiergasse, Vorbeckgasse and at the rail connection to Annenstraße. This siding requires a rail replacement service from May until the start of school in September – more information can be found here!
Below you will find photos of the work on the Tegetthoffbrücke!
Adaptation measures at the Remise 3 (depot 3):
As part of the inner city relief project, public transport capacities are being expanded and, in the course of this, depot 3 in Eggenberg must also be adapted accordingly for the 15 new, long streetcars.
The construction project includes the adaptation of the existing hall, the construction of a new streetcar wash hall and the construction of the stabling facilities in two expansion stages as well as the renovation of the existing track systems in the final stage by 2026. The depot 3 is in operation during the entire construction period with selective restrictions.
Initial work since 4.3.2024
The first preparatory construction work for the expansion began on 4.3. In March, tree pruning was carried out in the area of the former allotment gardens (a total of 3 trees requiring approval, which will also be replanted).
Work in the year 2025:
- Between May 3 and July 4, a number of construction measures will be implemented at Remise 3 – including:
- Renovation of the west-side points in Eggenberger Straße
Construction of a new entrance to the east-side extension of the coach house area - Between May 3 and May 23, there will be a replacement service for lines 4 and 7 (streetcars will run to Laudongasse, from there E4 to Reininghaus and E7 to Wetzelsdorf) before the replacement service for lines 1, 4, 6 and 7 begins.
Track replacement in the local transportation hub:
The underpass area of the local transport hub (Nahverkehrsdrehscheibe/NVD) is being renovated and cleaned, and the track arches at the underground streetcar stop are being replaced.
Track systems have a different service life depending on the geometry and the load (number of passages). While straight tracks last up to 50 years, it is significantly shorter for narrow track curves and switches with heavy traffic. Here, the service life is between 10 and 15 years. This is why Graz Linien is now replacing the track arches in the NVD during the period in which a rail replacement service is necessary anyway due to the track connection of the Neutor line in Annenstraße.
The work will be carried out between May 24 and July 4, during which time the rail replacement service will run above ground via the main station, while replacement buses will be able to use the NVD during the summer vacations.
Double-track extension of Line 1:
Currently, streetcar line 1 is operated on average at 10-minute intervals. One of the reasons for this is that the streetcars only have access to one track over a length of 900 meters in Hilmteichstraße.
Streetcar project with added value
With the construction of the second track between Auersperggasse and the Mariagrün stop, streetcars will be able to run every 7.5 minutes in the morning peak and, in the best-case scenario, take 1,500 passengers per hour in each direction to their destination. The municipal council gave the green light for the approximately 20 million euro project in December 2024, with the state of Styria and the federal government contributing more than half of the project costs.
Construction is scheduled to start at the end of 2025/beginning of 2026, the first streetcar should be back on track in December 2027 and the project will be completed in June 2028.
Information for citizens
An initial information dialog is planned for spring 2025. Further information will follow in due course.
In addition to the double-track extension:
- 27 new climate-friendly trees, shrub beds and meadow areas will be planted.
- new footpaths and cycle paths will be created.
- the existing canal will be enlarged to improve the water quality in the nearby streams.
- the historic bus shelter will be used as a bus stop in Hilmgasse.
Additional Graz Linien construction projects this year:
All of this work will be carried out during the rail replacement service – a lot of work will be combined in order to minimize major traffic disruptions in subsequent years
UKH Eggenberg:
At the turning loop at the terminus, the tram-free period will be used to replace the rails.
Construction period: 5.7. – 19.7.
Asperngasse – Eggenberger Straße:
Switches and bends are being renewed in the track triangle. The lane leading into the city on Eggenberger Straße will be available to motorized private traffic.
Construction period: 5.7. – 7.9.
Erzherzog-Johann-Brücke:
As long as there are no streetcars or other traffic running over the main bridge, the bridge’s roadway crossings and the track pull-outs can be renewed.
Construction period: 19.7. – 8.8.
Hauptplatz:
Because new, longer streetcars will also be on the road from the fall, it will be necessary to adapt the bus stop areas.
Construction period: 5.7. – 19.7.
Jakominiplatz I:
The stop areas on Jakominiplatz also need to be adapted for the new, longer streetcars in the area of the stops for lines 1, 3, 6 and 7.
Construction period: 19.7. – 8.8.
Jakominiplatz II:
After the resumption of all streetcar traffic in the fall, the stop for bus lines 30, 31 and 39 will be built.
Construction period: fall (September – November/exact period still open)
Odilieninstitut:
It moves the existing stop towards the city center and is merged with an existing bus stop in this move. At the same time, Energie Graz is laying a new power line through this construction site and the municipal department for green spaces is realizing new tree locations in parallel.
Construction period: 5.7. – 1.8.